Magnitude 6.9 Quake Strikes Gulf of California

Details of April 4, 2010 quake in BAJA posted at

M7.3 Quake Hits Baja

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.9Mw and strong fore- and aftershocks rock Baja, California

A strong earthquake measuring 6.9Mw struck Gulf of California Monday, August 03, 2009 at 17:59:56 UTC, USGS reported.

The M6.9 mainshock was preceded by a 5.8Mw foreshock and followed by two aftershocks measuring 5.0 and 5.9Mw.

More aftershocks are almost certain to follow.

AP reported:

Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Alex Rangel said a high-rise near downtown shook violently enough that workers evacuated, but there were no reports of injuries or damage. The quake was centered about 460 miles (740 kilometers) from Phoenix.

Earthquake Details [Mainshock]

• Magnitude: 6.9
• Date-Time:
  • Monday, August 03, 2009 at 17:59:56 UTC
  • Monday, August 03, 2009 at 10:59:56 AM at epicenter

• Location: 29.066°N, 112.871°W
• Depth: 10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
• Region: GULF OF CALIFORNIA

• Distances
  • 89 km (56 miles) NNE (31°) from Santa Isabel, Baja California, Mexico
  • 137 km (85 miles) W (280°) from La Doce, Sonora, Mexico
  • 174 km (108 miles) NE (46°) from Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico
  • 185 km (115 miles) W (270°) from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
  • 553 km (343 miles) SE (133°) from Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 7.1 km (4.4 miles); depth fixed by location program
• Parameters:  NST=140, Nph=140, Dmin=411.8 km, Rmss=1.31 sec, Gp= 97°, M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=7
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID:  us2009jwbh

10-degree Map Centered at 30°N,115°W

Earthquake Location Map. USGS

Seismic Hazard Map

Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green. USGS

Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green. USGS

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30 hurt as airliner hits turbulence

Severe turbulence shakes Continental airliner near Dominican Republic

A Continental airliner flying from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Houston, Texas,  Monday experienced severe turbulence at 36,000 feet, injuring more than 30 passengers—at least 4 of them seriously—and forcing the plane to divert to Miami International Airport.

“There were 168 passengers on Flight 128, which was originally headed from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Houston, Texas, according to Lt. Elkin Sierra of the Miami-Dade Fire Department.” CNN reported.

Some of the injured were taken to hospitals in Miami, while others  with less serious injuries were treated on the spot after the plane landed at Miami International Airport at about 6 am ET.

“The Boeing 767 hit turbulence about 50 miles north of the Dominican Republic at about 38,000 feet, according to an official with the Federal Aviation Administration.”

“The airline will decide whether or not to leave the uninjured passengers on the aircraft and continue the flight or disembark the entire aircraft,” Sierra said.

A Report Video

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